It can be caused by a variety of
activities but writers are at high risk for it because of the number of
hours we spend typing on our keyboards every day.

Symptoms of RSI:

*Tightness, pain, burning,
stiffness, or swelling in the hands, wrists which may or may not
extend to the elbows, shoulders, neck and/or back

*
Coldness, numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers

*
Loss of strength, coordination or clumsiness in the hands

* Pain that wakes you up at night

*A strongimpulse to
massage your hands, wrists, and/or elbows

*
The symptoms may fade or improve when the activity or task is stopped.

* Symptoms may spread through
various body parts. Starting with a stiff neck or numb fingers and
moving up or down through the extremities. Stiffness and pain in the
limbs and hands may be prominent in the mornings as well.

Like
computer
eye strain, the symptoms of RSI can be prevented or lessened. Keep
in mind that RSI is far easier to prevent than to cure.

Check the position of your workspace.
Are you
sitting too high? Too low?
Does
your chair provide adequate back support?
Can you
see the screen without leaning forward?
Can you
adjust the level of your armrests so you can maintain a
neutral position?

Improving your posture is a major component in preventing RSI.
Thighs
and forearms should be horizontal with the floor or slightly down
and away from the body.
Wrists
should be straight and level.
Back
straight and no slouching.
Do not
rest your wrists on anything while you're typing. Resting your
wrists causes you to stretch your fingers into awkward positions to
reach
the keys. However, when not typing, allow your wrists and hands to rest
either on your lap and/or on their sides instead of keeping your fingers
stretched over the keyboard.

1)
Taking a one minute break every 20 minutes or at least 5 minutes ever
hour can help reduce the strain on your body. This is recommended for
RSI and computer related eye strain.

2)
Do not grip your mouse tightly. Even track balls can cause injuries.
Keep your mouse as close to your keyboard as possible so you're not
reaching or putting your neck, arms or shoulders in an awkward position.

3) If
you're already spending hours a day working at a computer, consider
reducing your recreational computer usage. Email may be simple and
inexpensive, but if you're already suffering from RSI, you may want to
consider replacing some of those emails with phone calls. Computer games
typically involve long periods of time in intense concentration and
tense keyboard or controller usage. While these games are a lot of fun,
you may have to weigh the enjoyment of the game against your health. You
health should come first.

4)Consider voice recognition
software. It's not a cure all but it can help reduce the amount of
typing you do each day.

5)
Stress is a major contributing factor to RSI. Learning
relaxation techniques will improve your health in many areas and not
just with repetitive strain injuries. Yoga combines stretching with
relaxation and is an excellent way to improve your posture.

6) Exercise. Not only will it
help you maintain a healthy weight but it will loosen and stretch
muscles that have become tense from sitting over your computer all day.

7) Do NOT cradle the phone between your shoulder and ear. This
twists your neck and spine and can quickly cause serious problems. Many
stores carry headsets for the phone that make it possible to use the
phone practically hands free.

8) Pay attention to what your
body is telling you. A little twinge here and there is your body's way
of trying to let you know something is wrong. Don't ignore the little
pains, they can grow into serious, life long disabilities.

9) What
other activities are you engaging in that may be contributing to your
symptoms? Keep in mind that sports, hobbies and mundane tasks like
vacuuming can exacerbate RSI symptoms. Unfortunately some of the things
we enjoy most can cause more pain. Many writers are also avid readers
but holding a paperback novel in one hand for hours at a time can put
undue stress on your tendons and muscles.

10)
Braces can help. So can ergonomic keyboards and desk chairs, but nothing
can replace common sense. It does no good to use an ergonomic keyboard
if your monitor is so far away you have to hunch forward to read the
print.

Below are several helpful links over RSI,
how to prevent it, how to lessen the symptoms and exercises that can
help you feel better quickly.